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Single Idea 20297

[catalogued under 19. Language / E. Analyticity / 1. Analytic Propositions]

Full Idea

What's peculiar about the analytic is that denying it seem unintelligible. Far from unrevisability explaining analyticity, it seems to be analyticitiy that explains unrevisability; we only balk at denying unmarried bachelors because that's what it means!

Gist of Idea

Analytic statements are undeniable (because of meaning), rather than unrevisable

Source

Georges Rey (The Analytic/Synthetic Distinction [2013], 3.7)

A Reaction

This is a criticism of Quine, who attacked analyticity when it is understood as unrevisability. Obviously we could revise the concept of 'bachelor', if our marriage customs changed a lot. Rey seems right here.

Book Reference

'Stanford Online Encyclopaedia of Philosophy', ed/tr. Stanford University [plato.stanford.edu], p.9

Related Idea

Idea 11170 Analytic truth may only be true in virtue of the meanings of certain terms [Fine,K]